Means for applying casts



June 20, 1950 R. YOUNG 2,512,081

MEANS FOR APPLYING CASTS Filed D80. 12, 1945 llllllllmnn rm n 3/ 38139 L-lUDL 6 7 39 32 59 5 6 37% 3s- (36 o o o IIYVENTOR. lan x'a/zcaiamomewmyto the human body Patented June 20, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1;;

MEANS FOR APPLYING oAs'rs Lawrence Romaine Young, Seattle, Wash.Application December 12, 1945, serial No. 634,529

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a cast for application and to means forapplying such a cast. Casts, as usually applied to parts of the humanbody are of one piece construction molded from plaster of Paris or likematerial. These casts are wet when applied, must dry out on the body ofthe patient, are heavyand cumbersome to wear and can not be taken off topermit inspection and treatment of a portion of a patient except bycutting them off and thus destroying the cast. Also these one piececasts are liable to have pressure spots therein which are painful to thepatient and which can not be relieved without destroying the cast.

It is an object of this invention to construct a cast of two or moresections or pieces so that, after this cast has been applied to aninjured portion of a patient, a part of the cast may be removed whilethe injured portion of the patient is adequately and safely supported inanother part of the cast. This makes it possible to inspect and treat aninjured portion of a patient and to make mechanical changes in a castwithout destroying the cast.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and eflicientmeans for quickly, easily and inexpensively molding or constructing amultiple piece cast on an injured portion of a patient.

Another object is to provide a multiple part cast that may be quicklyand easily applied to a portion of the human body and to provide a castthat is lighter and stronger than the usual plaster cast and one thatdoes not have to be cut ofi of the body.

Another object is to provide a multiple part cast that can be molded ona portion of the body in such a manner as to reduce to a minimum thedanger of internal pressure spots in the cast and to further provide a'cast from which any internalpressure spots that are left in molding canbe removedv or relieved by mechanical processes at any time after thecast has been completed.

Another object is to provide a. cast that can be quickly and easilyopened up toprovide access to an injured portion of the body for thepurpose of inspection, taking of X-ray pictureSQappIicathe applicationof the first half of the cast thereby making it easier to maintain thecorrect positioning andalignment ofthe injured body portion than itwould be if a cast were being wrapped or molded entirely around theinjured portion in one operation. I

Another object is to provide a multiple part cast in which internalpadding can be renewed and lining material placed in the cast whendesired, thus making it possible to internally pad the cast or to applylining material to compensate for a reduction in size of an injured bodymember to whichthe cast is applied such as may occur when the swellingof an injured body member decreases. Y

Another object is to' provide a cast formed of parts which can beremoved from the patient as soon as they have hardened or set for thepurpose of completing the drying out of said parts, thus relieving thepatient of wearing the cast while it is drying, shortening thetimerequired for drying out the cast, and facilitating the takingoiX-ray pictures which are dificult to take through a wet cast. Anotherobject is to provide a cast which can be removed and have holes drilledtherein to lighten the weight of the cast and to provide for aircirculation or ventilation andfor' the evaporation of body moisture.

Other objects of the invention will be ap arent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of, a

piece of castfor'ming material suitably shaped section of a flexible orconformable mold member constructed in accordance with this invention.Fig. 6is an elevation of said mold member looking in the directionindicated by the arrows of broken line 6--6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is asectional view takenon broken lines 1.-| of Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is anelevation of a spring clip or fastener used in connection with thisinvention. Fig. 9 is a detached view showing a fragment of a flexiblestrap member that is used for binding together two or more parts of mycast. Fig. 10 is a'detached view or a clip used in securing to- 3 gathertwo overlapped portions of a strap of the type shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11is a View in cross section illustrating the manner of using my castforming apparatus in applying the lower half of a cast to a part of thebody. Fig. 12 is a view in cross section showing the lower and upperhalves of a finished cast secured together by a strap member of the formshown in Fig. 9. Fig. 13 is a view in cross section of a cast made inaccordancetwith myiinvention aridiin 'whfch' the adjoining-dgesof thetwucast members are overlapped. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view in crosssection showing how a raised or recessed portion may be formed in a partofimy castn 'l'eig. 15 is anelevation of a footplate constructed inaccordance with this inventionfifl igl lfi is asectional view of saidfootplate-taken on brokenl line lG-IB of Fig. 15.

Like reference numerals designate like-" p'arts throughout the severalviews. a Figs. 1, 2,: and. 3-show-two differentrplecesrof roast-formingmaterial that. may be :usedinoarrya ing ioutwmy: invention. a eThesetwopieces- I are .--nierely illustrativeland itis .to :be-understoodthat cast forming pieces of many difierentshapesand tsizes maybeprovided-and thatthese. cast dorming pieces may be of wariousw diiferentmaterials. h line-cast formingpiecesishownlin Figs. 1, 2 and 3prefer/ably: consistl.otlfabric-dfis such as cheese--cloth;.containingor carrying-adry finely (divided wmater-iab 2.1,suchasplaster-of-Paris,-that is scapable of shardeninge and setting: aiterrliquid, asuchas-water has beenadded or applied thereto. "The piece ofcast forming materialshown un. Fig.

..;1 is well adapted-for use imforming-the-lowenhalf ofa legscast. .llhis piece comprises a foot portion .22, amankle portion-23', aloweraleg. or calfportion a =knee portion- 25- :and.- arr upper :leg.portime 28. .0bv-iously the footvportionmn can'be omittedtotprouide a.castiorming piece for use .inlinstan-ceswhere the. cast-is not to extendover .lthe vfoot. similarly 'thenupperaleg porltiond'l and knee portion26 may be omittedtaprovide a cast forming. piece forruse. where the.cast. is tower- .minatebelow'the knee.

-. The piece of cast. forming m'aterialtdbemsed in forming'theltop.half-Jot. a .leg-.castand. to be paired with thepiece shown LinlFig.ltwill :have

. a general l configuration; "sirriilarl to'=the.. piece of EigIIl'butmay. bei'sl-ightly .variedin-shapeto conform to the top of the .legandfoot.

. .The=piece of cast formingmmateriallshown in 'Fig. 3 comprises a. handportion 21, .a lower. arm portion'28, a bent elbow portion 29 andamupper1 'armpo'rtioh 30. The piecelof cast 'formingmatei-ial'thatmates .withtherpiece. showniin; Big; 3 may'be of substantiallylthe= samea shape.-.-"The piece.of.-castl'forming.. material shown in. Fig... 3 is forusewhere an arm istobe bent. at the elbow "and placed-in the cast.QObviou'sly. straight rather ith'an angular pieces-of cast'iormingmaterialwill be. proi ided' for use where arms, .in aQstraightL'po'sitiomiare tobe' placed in casts.

"Devices' usedto facilitate the applicationof my 'castlare shown inEigsl 1:0..11. and 15. "These "devices comprise .1 conformable. .meansior supl'po'rting the lower half of'the cast forming materi'a'f'whilesaid cast 'for'ming material is being -fitted to a portion of .thebody,suchasa .legor arm; and is hardening .or-setting. .I'Ihe conform-Jcomprises-athin plate 3| of conformablemater-ial, 'fsiich as lead,thatflis capable of being'bentdnto 'difier-ent shapes and-that willltendto remainin f any-positionintciwhich itz-is' bent....The=plate 3| 1. m-These-tabs rfie-are@spacedsapart. fan: enough-so .50? -portion of eachplate 3 I.

has angle brackets 32 of inverted T shape secured to one side thereof atfrequent intervals. The brackets 32 have base flanges 38 and 39 that arepreferably beveled as shown and are slightly I; spaced apart so thatthey will not interfere with each other when the plate 3! is bent to themaximum curvature required.

The angle brackets 32 are preferably made of magnetic material such asiron and one pracl tical' Waymfrhdlcling the'conform'a'ble side mem-""b'ers again'staccidental movement is to place the base portions ofthese brackets 32 on a metal table that is magnetized and that willmagnetically hold the brackets 32 with enough force to prevent it themfrom being moved inadvertently.

bviously*meehanical means can be provided-for.securinglthese.conformable side members in any desired position.

'I wo' of the conformable side members consti- 2 tute a pair, to beapplied as shown in Fig. 11. wThe-Aplate-M in? each: conformablesidemember tapers t0 conform to the taper. of.=the-part:'o'f [the body towhich the side member is to be applied. -'llhis r taper-can beapproximately as shown in Fig. 25-: 6.-for a-'- device-thaws to be-usedin applying a -leg cast. Preferably the lengths of the-base flanges -38cf|therangle1 braeketsv32- are-varied itoprov-ide a--sim-ilartaper.-'Als0 preferably the-two con- .formablaside: :members of--eachpair aremade :ao right andseftl andvthe brackets 32 are securedsto theoutersidesmfsthe plates 3tso as to leave'the inner-sides of: thepla-tes-31: smooth and? unobstructed. rThese conformable;side:members are 01similar-rconstruetion whether they areint'ended for use on the leg, armor bodyand function in a similar-wmanner' butflobviouslyr are.ofdifierent shapes and sizes, .dependingwon what-part ofthe wbody theyare -to'be applied to. :Also these conformablesidemembers are made-indifferent sizes aim {or :use on' persons of." difierentrsizei such aslarge andsmall persons. and: adults and children.

A rubber--sheet- 33. Figs 11, is provided for .use with: each. pair. Iof conformable side- :members. -rAlso .a,-plurality-ofspring clips;'Figi syaref-provided to secure the rubber sheetr33- tothe-topedgeportions:- of' the conformable" side members.- Each aspiingrclipbo1nprises= a loop 34 of spring metal having two jaw portions'35 and saadapted to fit loves and clamp the rubbersheet-SSi-tothe topedge Alsoea'ch spring clip :has aflat top portion 31* and a triggerportion 31' which may beconvenientlygrasped-so ast toexert asqueezing(force-on the clip and spread the jaws 35 1 and-'38 apartflto facilitateapplication or re- 55 moval.

A :Straps flfl; Fig: 9; 0t rthin flexible material; are pro'vided for.securing *twoparts of a completed acastu together. :IEa'ch strap 1 '41!:is :provided near both ends witn openings- 4i through which clips v60"42. Fig. 10;may be passed to secure two overlapped -end'por'tions'ofa'strap together. Preferably'these "straps are made of transparentmaterial so that they will not tend to obstructthe" taking of x raypictures.

Figs. 15. and 16 showa' foot'plate that may be used to assist. in.providing a. cast on the foot of.a patient. This.footplatecomprisesan.up-

right portion 43, a base portion. and-tabs or L70, plates .45of.conformable-.material such .as- .lead iable. side support shown in.Figs. 5,6, 7- ancl. 11

secured to the .upright portion 43.- and overhang--.ingttheedges-thereon The tabs can be bent around the sides .ofthe-foot to support :plastic ecast'forming material that is -appliedtorthe foot.

that they will not interfere with each other when bent around the sidesof the foot.

In applying a cast in accordance with this invention a rubber sheet 33is laid on a table 46 or like support. Any desired number of metalstraps 40 are laid across the rubber sheet 33. A piece of cast formingmaterial such as the piece shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is placed on therubber sheet 33 and is suitably moistened or otherwise treated to renderit plastic and capable of' hardening or setting and to condition it sothat it will readily conform to the shape of a part of the human bodysuch as the back portion of a leg. The part of a patient to which thecast is to be applied, such as the leg, is positioned on the castforming material. This may be done by moving the log onto the castforming material or by moving the cast forming material under the leg.The sides of the rubber sheet '33 are then lifted up and two of theconformable side members 3l-32 are positioned alongside and pressedagainst the rubber sheet and the base flanges of the brackets 32 arepushed under the rubber sheet and under the cast forming material andbody part supported thereon.

' The rubber sheet is drawn tightly over the top edges of theconformable members and is secured at frequent intervals, by clips ofthe form shown in Fig. 8, to the conformable side members 3I32. Thisrubber sheet 33, being elastic, yieldingly supports the moist castforming material in such a manner that the cast forming material iscaused to conform accurately to the shape of the part of the body towhich'the cast is being applied. The body part is thus supported in theplastic cast forming material with the cast forming material preferablyextending approximately half way around the body part so that when thecast forming material hardens it will provide half of a cast for thebody part. If a cast is being applied to a leg and the piece of castforming material shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is being used, then the rubbersheet 33 will extend under the foot piece 22 of the cast formingmaterial and when this rubber sheet is drawn up the foot piece 22 of thecast forming material will first be raised and pressed against the soleof the foot, after which the footplate, Figs. 15 and 16, will be appliedby slipping the flange 44 under the heel, pressing the upright portion43 against the sole of the foot and bending the conformable tabs 45around the sides of the foot so that the foot portion 22 of the castforming material is supported over the bottom half of the foot.

When the cast forming material is drawn around .the sides of the leg andfoot and before this material has started to harden or set, the edges ofsaid cast forming material are shaped in any desired manner to providefor satisfactory edge to edge contact with the upper half of the cast.For instance, these edges may be flattened, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12,to provide a simple butt joint or they may be beveled, as shown in Fig.13, to provide a bevel joint that will resist relative sidewisedisplacement of the lower and upper parts of the cast.

Afterward, the edge portions of the lower half of the cast are coveredwith strip material such as Cellophane and this covering material willprevent the adjoining edges of the upper half of the cast from adheringto the edges of the lower half of said cast. The upper half of the castis preferably formed manually by applying cast forming material to theupper half of the leg -or other body part and properly molding andshaping the same. After the upper half of the cast has been properlyapplied then the straps 40 are drawn upwardly and around both halves ofthe cast, their ends are overlapped and the clips 42 are used to fastenthese overlapping ends together. In applying these straps 40 the clips42 are preferably inserted in the underlying strap end with theirrelatively fiat heads downwardly and their two prongs extendingupwardly. The other strap end is then drawn snugly over the upper castforming material and over the said underlying end and one of theopenings 4| thereof is fitted over the prongs of a clip 42 and theprongs bent outwardly. When the straps are thus applied while the upperhalf of the cast is soft the soft cast forming material will tend toenter or bulge into'the openings 4!. When this cast forming materialsets it will help to anchor the straps 40 more securely to the cast andthus tend to relieve the clips 42 of sheering strain. The heads of theclips 42, being thin and flat, will not have any appreciable tendency toform pressure spots in the cast.

If it is desired to permanently secure the ends or edges of two castmembers together then preferably a wire connector member 48, Fig. 4, isembedded half in one cast member and half in the other cast member. Thusa wire connector member 43 may be partially embedded in one cast memberand this cast member allowed to cure and set and later another castmember may be molded so as to embed therein the protruding part of theconnector member 48 of the first cast member, thus permanentlyconnecting the two cast members together.

If it is desired to mold an internal depression in any part of a castthis may be done by placing a pad M, Fig. 14, of soft material, such ascotton, on the part of the body to which the cast is to be appliedbefore said cast is molded. As this cast is made in two or moreseparable pieces it is possible to cast an internal depression in a castover'thelocation of an incision or injury to avoid painfi lllpressure onthe injured spot.

' For purpose of illustration I have shown and described a cast that ismade in two parts and I have referred to these parts as a lower half andan upper half. It will be understood however that this cast may be madein more than two pieces. Also it will be understood that said cast maybe applied to a portion of the human body such as a leg or an arm or atrunk or torso so that the two parts of the cast are two side halvesrather than an upper and lower half. Also it will be understood thatpieces of cast forming material of all desired shapes and sizes to fitall parts of the human body may be provided or may be formed or preparedas needed, or that the cast forming material may be mixed as a plasterand thus used.

For instance in applying a cast to the leg of a patient the patient canbe positioned on his back, on his face, on either side or in anyintermediate position and the two parts of the cast can be applied tothe bottom and top of the leg in whatever position the leg is placed.Thus the two parts of the cast can fit together at any desired locationaround the leg. A cast can be applied in a similar manner to an arm orto the body. In removing a part of the cast from an injured portion ofthe body it is preferable to let the injured portion of the body lie inthe lower half of the cast and remove the upper half of the cast. Thiscan be done by unclinching the clinched T. endsof.the:clips:=42:,joending the released end porr tions-.;oi.,the straps:40 outwardly and lifting;.oflf theatop segment of the. cast.: Thus thecast can beopened-up for inspection and treatment of the injured partwithout danger of damage, to the body part in-the cast. In this mannerit is. pos-,

sible toopen up the cast first on one side and thenon the other without,depriving the injured portion of the body. of the support of the cast.The separable parts of the cast can always be replacedin theircorrectrelative positionsgontheinjured member. and. thestraps 40. againmade fast-by the insertionand clinching of clip meme: bers 42.

Thiscast can be made from plaster; of Parisor from any other suitablematerial that can be made plastic and that will quicklyharden or set. Itcan be made in two or more seotionsasidesired and the cast can be ofany. length and size, This cast can be molded so that the parts ofthecast are .separable in any desired plane around the injured part towhich the cast is'applied. It can be applied directly over the skin of apatient and then removed and linedlor internally padded if desired. Itis less difi'icult and cleaner to apply than an ordinary cast and is notso liable to be fitted too tight for comfort. It is free from:the gritand plaster dust that results from the cutting oifsof an ordinaryplaster of Paris cast.

Obviously changes in this castand the method or and means for applyingthe same may be made within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

L'In cast forming means, a cast supporting member comprising arelatively long. narrow plate of inelastic pliable conformable materialcapable oiibeing bent into difierent shapes and of retaining a shape:int which it is bent, and a plurality ofanglerbrackets secured to saidplate at closely spaced-intervals adaptedto rest on a horizontal supportand support said plate in a substantially vertical plane.

*2. In castzforming means,:two cast supporting plates :or conformablematerial adapted to be placed along opposite sides .of a portion of ahuma-n'body-to which a cast is to be applied, said plates beingconformable to the shape of the portion of the bodyto-which they areapplied and being capable ofretaining the shape into which theyareformed; meansasupporting said plates in upright positions; an elasticsheet extending over said plates-providing'an elastic support betweenthe top :eolges orsaid plates for the reception of cast formingmaterial; and readily detachable clips'securing said elastic sheet tothe top edge portions of Saidplatesleaving said elastic sheetunsupported between said top edges of said plates.

3.,In cast forming means, two cast supporting plates -.of conformablematerial adapted .to be placed along opposite sides of a portion of ahumanbody to which a cast is to be applied, said plates beingconformable to the shape ofthe por tion of the body to which they areapplied and: being capable ofretaining the shape into which they areformed; means supporting the plates-in upright positions; an elasticsheet extending over said plates providing an elastic support between.the top-edges of said plates adapted to'receive cast: forming material;readily detachable clips securing said elastic sheets to the top.edge.por.-. tions of said plates; and depression formingmembersrextending. crosswise of said elastic-sheet arranged to formtransverse strap receiving; grooves in plastic material supported.0n.-=Said elastic sheet.

4. In cast. forming means, two cast supporting plates of conformablematerial adapted .to .beplaced along opposite sides of a portion :of ahuman body to which a cast is to be applied, said plates beingconformable to the shape of the pore. tion of the body to which they areapplied and being capable of retaining the shape into which they areformed; angle brackets secured to said plates for supporting the platesin upright posivtion, said angle brackets being slightly spaced apart tofacilitate bending of said plates between said angle brackets; anelastic sheet extending over said plates providing between said platesan elastic support for east forming material; and. detachable clipssecuring said elastic sheet to the top edge portions of said plates.

5. In castforming means, a plate; base; means secured to one end portionof said Plate and ex-' tending substantially at right angles theretoadapted to hold said plate in anupright position; and tabs ofnon-resilient bendable material secured to the marginal edge portionsofsaidplate, said tabs being inelastic andpliableandbeing capable ofbeing bent to conform to the shaped anbbject of irregular outline and ofretaining the position into which they are bent.

LAWRENCE'ROMAINE YOUNG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 158,894 Bissell Jan. 19, 187.5286,693 Fried Oct. 16,1883 323,775. Bender et al Aug. 4, 1885 1,100,483Houghton June 16, 1914 1,197,253 Biddinger Sept. 5, 1916 1,335,475Bergman Mar. 30,1920 1,640,586 Tusup Aug. 30, 19272 1,967 ,888 KearsleyJuly 24,1934 2,082,451 .Kevlahan June 1, 1937 2,233,174 .McDonald Feb.25, 1941 2,255,036. Redmond Sept. 16, 7194.1

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 604,671 France May 11, 926

